From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to free education and the welfare of teachers in the state, as the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) appealed to the government to appoint qualified and experienced teachers to the position of Permanent Secretary in the state civil service.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Kefas reassured teachers and parents of his administration’s continuous efforts to make the learning environment more conducive.
He noted that his administration’s free education programme was anchored on the training and retraining of teachers.
He said a major component of the free education programme was to ensure that the learning environment and teachers occupied a central role in its implementation and funding.
To this end, he said teachers remained major partners in the quest to provide free and quality education.
He also spoke of plans to build better school structures in addition to ongoing renovation works, as well as the provision of modern learning tools, teaching aids, school uniforms, bags, textbooks and other equipment, which he said would continue to be major features of the free education programme.
He further revealed that 2027 would witness a series of budgetary allocations aimed at addressing the housing and healthcare concerns of teachers.
He further noted that, in addition to welfare packages that would focus on proper remuneration, payment of outstanding benefits and other financial assistance, the administration would ensure that the teacher’s reward is on both on “Earth and in heaven”.
Kefas used the occasion to commend teachers for their labour and resilience, noting that they remained the primary moulders of opinion and character in children.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NUT, Taraba State Wing, Comrade Nathan Solomon, called on the state government to appoint qualified and experienced teachers to the position of Permanent Secretary in the state civil service.
The NUT boss stressed the need for greater recognition of the teaching profession, saying qualified teachers should be given opportunities to contribute their expertise to policy formulation and administration within the civil service.
He noted that the experience and professional knowledge of teachers could add significant value to the education sector and the wider public administration.
Solomon said the theme, “Standing with Teachers: Sixty Years of Promoting the Profession, Advancing Its Status and Shaping the Future,” underscored the critical role teachers continued to play in strengthening the education sector, promoting professional development and shaping the future of society.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, commended teachers for their invaluable contributions to nation-building and the development of the education sector.
Dr. Augustina, who was represented by the Secretary of the ministry, Rabi Sunday, said the government recognised the vital role teachers played in the development of the state and would continue to provide an enabling environment for academic excellence.
She noted that teachers had played a significant role in the successful implementation of the state government’s free education policy, urging them to sustain their commitment and dedication to duty.
